Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003

Exchange of options on company reorganisation U.K.

26 (1) A CSOP scheme may provide that if— U.K.

(a) there is a company reorganisation affecting a scheme company (that is, a company whose shares may be acquired by the exercise of share options obtained under the scheme: see paragraph 16), and

(b) a participant has obtained share options under the scheme which are to acquire shares of the scheme company (“the old options”),

the participant may agree with the acquiring company to release the old options in consideration of the participant being granted new share options.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph there is a company reorganisation affecting a scheme company if another company (“the acquiring company”)—

(a) obtains control of the scheme company—

(i) as a result of making a general offer to acquire the whole of the issued ordinary share capital of the scheme company which is made on a condition such that, if it is met, the person making the offer will have control of that company, or

(ii) as a result of making a general offer to acquire all the shares in the scheme company which are of the same class as those subject to the old options;

[F1 (b) obtains control of the scheme company as a result of a compromise or arrangement sanctioned by the court under section 899 of the Companies Act 2006 (court sanction for compromise or arrangement);]

[F2 (c) becomes bound or entitled to acquire shares in the scheme company under sections 979 to 982 [F3 or 983 to 985] of the Companies Act 2006 (takeover offers: right of offeror to buy out minority shareholder [F4 etc] ).]

[F5 (2A) In sub-paragraph (2)(a)(i) the reference to the issued ordinary share capital of the scheme company does not include any capital already held by the person making the offer or a person connected with that person and in sub-paragraph (2)(a)(ii) the reference to the shares in the scheme company does not include any shares already held by the person making the offer or a person connected with that person.

(2B) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a)(i) and (ii) it does not matter if the general offer is made to different shareholders by different means.]

(3) A scheme that makes provision under sub-paragraph (1) must require the agreement referred to in that sub-paragraph to be made—

(a) where control is obtained in the way set out in sub-paragraph (2)(a)(i) or (ii), within the period of 6 months beginning with the time when the acquiring company obtains control and any condition subject to which the offer is made is met,

(b) where control is obtained in the way set out in sub-paragraph (2)(b), within the period of 6 months beginning with the time when the court sanctions the compromise or arrangement, and

(c) where sub-paragraph (2)(c) applies, within the period during which the acquiring company remains bound or entitled as mentioned in that provision.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4 para. 26(2)(b) substituted (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/954), arts. 1(1), 33 (with art. 4)

F2 Sch. 4 para. 26(2)(c) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 3, Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2194), Sch. 4 para. 100 (with art. 12)

F3 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(2)(c) inserted (17.7.2013) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 2 para. 30(2)(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 30(4))

F4 Word in Sch. 4 para. 26(2)(c) inserted (17.7.2013) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 2 para. 30(2)(b) (with Sch. 2 para. 30(4))

F5 Sch. 4 para. 26(2A)(2B) inserted (17.7.2013) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 2 para. 30(3) (with Sch. 2 para. 30(4))